Boreham Road NDO

As part of the Government’s Localism Bill, councils have been asked to identify schemes that could be put forward as ‘frontrunner’ schemes for neighbourhood development. A site at Boreham Road, near the Bishopstrow roundabout, has been identified as suitable for a self-build project in the private sector, and proposals to make this a Neighbourhood Development Order (NDO) were discussed at a Town Development meeting on 8th October. If an NDO is to be undertaken, the local community will be involved in consultations on the development, including its design, which is an issue of concern given the location of the site at one of the main entrances to the town. Councillors have already been involved in the initial discussions undertaken by the steering group, which is composed of interested parties from Warminster and Bishopstrow, but if the project is to proceed as an NDO the Town Council will have to take the lead and seek the relevant government funding from Wiltshire Council to complete the process.
Concerns had been expressed about the nature of what ‘affordable housing’ would mean with regard to the project. Self-build homes will be more affordable than pre-built houses, but the plots are aimed at executive housing rather than social housing. However, the developers have proposed to pay a community contribution of £350,000 from the sales of the plots, and these monies could possibly be put towards local schemes in Warminster.
The NDO will be an excellent opportunity for Wiltshire to undertake its first ever self-build scheme, which may also be a national ‘first’. On this basis the Councillors voted to continue to be involved in the scheme and to take the lead on the project.